Since 1983, the owner of Manuel Auto Body & Custom Collision in Vallejo has customized thousands of cars with one-of-a-kind paint jobs.

He has given new life to classic cars, transforming once forgotten rides into head-turning beauties.

“I was really bad at drawing at school,” Angel smiled as he recalled his younger days. “When I get an idea in my head, I don’t lay anything down, I just start messing around with my tape and colors, and sometimes I get these crazy ideas.”

Those ideas allowed Angel to fulfill his calling in life: to work on cars.

After attending a body and fender course at college, Angel started working at a body shop fixing an old Mercedes in 1979. A few years later, he opened a modest garage shop. Now, his business encompasses the entire area at 11 Cypress Avenue.

Angel received confirmation he was in the right industry when a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro was brought in for new paint about 20 years ago.

The classic car had once belonged to Angel’s brother and was the first vehicle he painted.

“I got to repaint it, and that was great,” he said.

Angel’s work has been featured in numerous low-rider magazines.

He even worked on Earl Stevens’ 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass, converting it from a white paint to green.

Stevens, better known by his stage name, E-40, is a well-known rapper, investor, and entrepreneur. Along with his family, Stevens is part of a rap group, The Click.

The cutlass was featured on The Click’s Money and Muscle album from 2001.

Angel’s top fans probably have to be Calvin and Janis Fisk, of Benicia.